Tyson Fury congratulated ‘brother’ Tom Aspinall and said it ‘couldn’t have happened to a nicer person’ after he became UFC heavyweight champion.
Aspinall, a former sparring partner of Fury, became the third British UFC champion in history with a sensational knockout of Russian powerhouse Sergei Pavlovich in the first round of UFC 295.
The 30-year-old, who took the fight on two-and-a-half weeks’ notice, destroyed the man he described as the ‘scariest in the UFC’ and left an impression on Fury with his statement at Madison Square. Garden in New York.
“I just want to give a huge shoutout to my brother Tom Aspinall, the new UFC Heavyweight World Champion!” Fury said on Instagram.
‘God bless you Tom, the best brother. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person. Congratulations to you and your family and I hope you have a wonderful, wonderful time.”
Tyson Fury (left) paid tribute to former sparring partner Tom Aspinall (right) after taking the interim heavyweight title following New York’s victory over Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295
Fury’s congratulations on Instagram came after he reacted excitedly to the fight on X.
“We have some serious talent in England,” Fury posted after the fight.
‘Congratulations Tom on his victory. Another top athlete in the making!’
Fury, the WBC heavyweight boxing champion, brought Aspinall to his camp ahead of his clash with Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia in a bid to better understand the complexities of dealing with an MMA fighter.
Speak with TNT Sports Fury recently said about Aspinall’s qualities: ‘He’s a good fighter and probably could have made it as a professional boxer.
“I was pretty sure he would have gone on and won a world championship, but he had a knee derailment and it fell out, now he’s made his comeback. I think he can do it. He’s big enough, he’s got the power, he’s a black belt in jiu-jitsu.”
The 30-year-old joins Hall of Famer Michael Bisping and welterweight king Leon Edwards
Aspinall started the fight on two and a half weeks notice and delivered an incredible knockout
Aspinall lived up to Fury’s expectations with an incredible first-round knockout.
A big right hand to the temple and two more shots fired in quick succession put his Russian rival down.
“I can’t even tell you (what it feels like),” an emotional Aspinall said.
‘It’s been a crazy two weeks. If you ever get a chance to do something and you’re afraid to do it, then you should fucking do it.”
Aspinall then praised Pavlovich, as he had throughout fight week, before dedicating the belt to his father.
“He’s a big scary guy. But I also have a lot of power and I believe in myself,” the Englishman said.
Aspinall joins Hall of Famer Michael Bisping and welterweight king Leon Edwards in a shortlist of British fighters to take home UFC gold.